Emotional and psychological stress and trauma might be harder to see than physical signs of abuse, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t damaging. You may feel as if your mind is flooded with emotions, memories, incidents that occurred, fear, anxiety, a negative self-image, and so on.
Whether you’ve experienced a horrific event, abusive relationships, or trauma related to unexpected violence or disaster, it could result in PTSD, making life so much more difficult. If you feel like you may be a victim of emotional abuse and are experiencing PTSD symptoms, take this quiz to find out if you’re right.
1. Do you often avoid things, places, or people associated with trauma?
A. Yes, I can’t even think about it without becoming so anxious I get sick
B. Yes, thankfully, it isn’t that often, but it does happen
C. No, it gives me anxiety, and I can become fearful, but it’s not like I CAN’T go places
2. Do you ever experience nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, anxiety, or trouble concentrating?
A. Yes, all of the time
B. Yes, sometimes I do
C. Sometimes, but nothing that inhibits my daily life
3. Have you ever been in what you consider an emotionally abusive relationship?
A. Yes, definitely
B. No, I don’t think so
C. I was emotionally abused just once in my life. That was terrible!
4. Are you haunted by a traumatic event that plays over and over in your mind?
A. Yes, an event that has happened repeatedly in my life that I can’t get out of my head
B. Yes, a one-time traumatic incident I’ve experienced
C. Sometimes, I have recurring thoughts or memories of a horrible time in my life
5. Have you experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in your life?
A. Yes, repeatedly
B. Yes, an isolated incident
C. Nothing that I feel is major compared to other situations I’ve heard about
6. Do you seem to develop unhealthy behaviors such as drinking, eating disorders, substance use, etc. as a way to cope?
A. Yes, it’s the only way I cope
B. Sometimes I do
C. No, not particularly
7. Do you, or did you at the time, felt the abuse was your fault?
A. Yes
B. Not really
C. Sometimes
8. Did you stay in a relationship way longer than you should have because of promises or hopes your significant other would change?
A. Yes, but they never did
B. Yes, but not relevant to what I am experiencing
C. No
9. Do you have a pounding heart, shaking, or sweating palms, when remembering the abuse?
A. No
B. Sometimes
C. Yes, definitely
10. Does the trauma leave you on edge and struggling to concentrate?
A. Not really
B. Sometimes
C. Yes, definitely
11. Has the trauma led to restlessness, irritability, and anger?
A. Not really
B. Sometimes
C. Yes, definitely
12. Do you feel unconsciously drawn to unhealthy dynamics and end up in another abusive relationship?
A. No
B. Sometimes
C. Yes
13. Do you have a hard time trusting loved ones and new romantic partners?
A. Rarely
B. Sometimes
C. Yes
14. Have you experienced trauma related to being verbally assaulted, humiliated, intimidated, confined, or isolated?
A. Yes, on an ongoing basis
B. Yes, in an isolated incident
C. Sometimes, but not all of the time
15. Have you ever felt your sense of identity, dignity, or self-worth was diminished or lost?
A. Yes, I have none anymore
B. Yes, sometimes I do
C. No, but I did feel awful during the time of the traumatic experience
